This interview with Todd Terje was conducted right after his gig at Sweat Club in Leipzig last Friday where he played to a remarkably young crowd of Nu Rave-socialised dancers. They cheered at the end.

How Do you feel?
I feel sweaty, I’m hot, I’m a little bit tired cause I just had a cold…

Are you pleased with your performance tonight?
I’m always pleased with my performance…
[laughs]
… I tend to go very different ways everytime I play, which I like cause then it gets more intuitive instead of planning sort of what you gonna play. So if you go very wrong at least you can do it better… you have to be able to fall to stand up again.

What song really did it for you tonight?
Personally, for me… Sleazy McQueen – Naked (KiNK Remix)

What record do you always take with you but never play?
Trentemøller – Vamp
It’s a great record but I never get to play it…

Did anyone ask you to play harder, faster or anything by Paul Kalkbrenner?
No!??

What did you drink?
Today, I drank two beers and some water (because of the cold…)

Where do you play next weekend?
In Dubai.

On a scyscraper?
No, but in a club that is rated 58 best in the world… I think the list actually goes to 60. [laughs]

What is your favourite beard and why?
This moustache with the curls at the end… what is it called? I cannot do it and that’s why it’s my favourite!

What are your five favourite bearded characters?
1. Salvador Dalí
2. Uncle Scrooge
3. Magnus International
It’s not actual his beard… all his hair including his facial air… he looks like a microphone!

[interviewer bursts with laughter]

Ok that’s number three. Number four’s next:
4. Kurt Hauenstein
Fifth one has to be… [thinks] Can I have six?
Yes.
5. Homer Simpson and Chuck Norris

What do your parents do?
My mother works in law. She’s working in a court. My father’s been in the furniture business all his life, because his parents have been in the furniture business all their life.

What do your parents think of what you do?
I don’t actually think they know what I do…

Oh really? Why’s that?
Because everytime I explained it to them I could see the words going in at the one side and coming out at from the other side of their ears…

But I mean, they must have noticed that you have found a way to earn your own money?
Well, I revealed my income to my mother… so finally she takes me serious. [laughs]

But she still isn’t interested in what you do for it?
She doesn’t understand, you know?

But couldn’t you just say: I’m like a musician, I play music, make people dance…
Yes of course, but she just doesn’t understand the fact that you can get paid for… for choosing records and putting them into an order. She probably thinks I only work every five minutes. With coffee breaks inbetween.

[laughter]

What was the last thing you googled?
Barley. I’m reading this farming book and there’s lots of vocabulary I don’t know.

Did you ever google yourself?
Of course I googled myself!
[laughs]

What was the most interesting thing you found out?
On youtube, you could see interviews and listen to yourself. Talk. English. That’s a frightening experience. Your voice sounds funny recorded and you say stupid things when you’re interviewed.

Okay, last question: what would you ask me if you were the interviewer?
Why you’re always in such a good mood? Always smiling… what’s your secret?

Well it’s a bit cheesy, but the answer is: That’s because you always meet me at your gigs…

His remix of M – Pop Muzik is out now.

Buy it via iTunes or wait for the physical release on his remix compilation for Permanent Vacation in April 2010. It’s going to be his last remix for a while since he’s working on his debut album appearing later this century.

Posted by C Moroder 10.11.09 | 11:27 pm | Straight Up